OBJECTIVES
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At the end of the lecture, the student should be able to:
Define the word ‘artery’ and understand the general
principles of the arterial system.
Define arterial anastomosis and describe its significance.
Define end arteries and give examples.
Describe the aorta and its divisions & list the branches
from each part.
List major arteries and their distribution in the head &
neck, thorax, abdomen and upper & lower extremities.
List main pulse points.
“ARTERIES”
• Arteries carry blood from the heart to the
body.
• All arteries, carry oxygenated blood,
EXCEPT the PULMONARY ARTERY which
carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF
ARTERIES
• The flow of blood depends on the pumping action of the heart.
• Arteries have ELASTIC WALL containing NO VALVES.
• The branches of arteries supplying adjacent areas normally
ANASTOMOSE with one another freely providing backup routes
for blood to flow if one artery is blocked, e.g. arteries of limbs.
• The arteries whose terminal branches do not anastomose with
branches of adjacent arteries are called “END ARTERIES”. End
arteries are of two types:
 Anatomic (True) End Artery: When NO anastomosis exists, e.g.
artery of the retina.
 Functional End Artery: When an anastomosis exists but is
incapable of providing a sufficient supply of blood, e.g. splenic
artery, renal artery.
AORTA
• The largest artery in the body
• Carries oxygenated blood to
all parts of the body
• Is divided into 4 parts:
1. Ascending aorta
2. Arch of aorta
3. Descending thoracic aorta
4. Abdominal aorta
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ASCENDING AORTA
• Originates from left
ventricle.
• Continues as the arch of
aorta
• Has three dilatations at its
base, called aortic sinuses
• Branches:
 Right & Left coronary
arteries (supplying
heart), arise from
aortic sinuses
ARCH OF AORTA
• Continuation of the
ascending aorta.
• Leads to descending
aorta.
• Located behind the lower
part of manubrium sterni
and on the left side of
trachea.
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• Branches:
1. Brachiocephalic trunk.
2. Left common carotid artery.
3. Left subclavian artery.
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COMMON CAROTID ARTERY
• Origin:
LEFT from aortic arch.
RIGHT from
brachiocephalic trunk.
• Each common carotid
divides into two branches:
 Internal carotid
 External carotid
EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
• It divides behind neck of
mandible into: Superficial
temporal & maxillary arteries
• It supplies:
 Scalp: Superficial temporal,
occipital, & posterior
auricular arteries
 Face: Facial artery
 Maxilla & mandible:
Maxillary artery
 Tongue: Lingual artery
 Pharynx: ascending
pharyngeal artery
 Thyroid gland: Superior
thyroid artery
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INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY
• Has NO branches in the neck
• Enters the cranial cavity, joins
the basilar artery (formed by
the union of two vertebral
arteries) and forms ‘arterial
circle of Willis’ to supply
brain.
• In addition, it supplies
Nose
Scalp
 Eye
SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY
• Origin:
 LEFT: from arch of aorta
 RIGHT: from
brachiocephalic trunk
• It continues, at lateral
border of first rib, as
axillary artery: artery of
upper limb
• Main branches:
 Vertebral artery:
supplies brain & spinal
cord
 Internal thoracic artery:
supplies thoracic wall
ARTERIES OF UPPER LIMB
At lateral border of 1st rib
At lower border of teres major
Opposite neck of radius
DESCENDING THORACIC AORTA
• It is the continuation of
aortic arch
• At the level of the 12th
thoracic vertebra, it
passes through the
diaphragm and continues
as the abdominal aorta
• Branches:
 Pericardial
 Esophageal
 Bronchial
 Posterior intercostal
ABDOMINAL AORTA
• It enters the abdomen
through the aortic
opening of diaphragm.
• At the level of lower
border of L4, it divides
into two common Iliac
arteries.
• Branches: divided into
two groups:
• Single branches
• Paired branches
MAIN BRANCHES OF
ABDOMINAL AORTA
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SINGLE BRANCHES
SUPPLYING
GASTROINTESTINAL
TRACT
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PAIRED BRANCHES
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BRANCHES OF COMMON ILIAC ARTERY
• EXTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY:
continues (at midpoint of
inguinal ligament) as
femoral artery the main
supply for lower limb
• INTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY:
supplies pelvis
ARTERIES OF LOWER LIMB
 Femoral Artery
Is the main arterial supply to
lower limb
Is the continuation of external
iliac artery behind the midpoint of
the inguinal ligament
Passes through adductor hiatus
and continues as:
 Popliteal Artery
Deeply placed in the popliteal
fossa.
Divides, at lower end of popliteal
fossa into:
1-Anterior Tibial Artery
2-Posterior Tibial Artery
PULSE POINTS IN HEAD & NECK
PULSE POINTS IN UPPER LIMB
PULSE POINTS IN LOWER LIMB
THANK YOU